Skip to song content

Leonard Cohen - Sisters of Mercy Chords

ChordsG, C, D, Bm, F#m, A, F, Em
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

GOh,theSistersofCMercy
TheyGarenot DdepartedorGgone.CG
TheywereBmwaitingforF#mme
WhenIBmthoughtthatIF#mjustcantgoAon.D
AndtheyCbroughtmetheirGcomfort,
AndFlatertheyEmbroughtmetheirDsong.
Oh,IGhopeyourunCintothemGyou,
Who’vebeenDtravelingsoGlong.C
CFCGCFCGCGD
Yes,GyouwhomustCleave Geverything
ThatyouDcannot Gcontrol.CG
It BmbeginswithyourF#mfamily,
ButBmsoonitcomesF#mroundtoyourAsoul.D
WellI’veCbeenwhereyou’reGhanging,
IFthinkIcanEmseehowyou’reDpinned.
Whenyou’reGnotfeelingCholy
YourGlonelinessDsaysthatyou’veGsinned.C
CFCGCFCGCGD
Well,theyGlaydown Cbesideme,
IGmademy DconfessiontoGthem.CG
TheyBmtouchedbothmyF#meyes
AndIBmtouchedtheF#mdewontheirAhem.D
IfyourClifeisaGleaf
ThattheFseasonstearEmoffand Dcondemn,
TheywillGbindyouwithClove
ThatisGgracefulandDgreenasaGstem.C
CFCGCFCGCGD
AlbumSongs of Leonard Cohen
GenresPop
Year1967
KeyG
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Sisters of Mercy on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Leonard Cohen - Sisters of Mercy on guitar requires 8 chords and 11 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Sisters of Mercy uses these transitions most often: C → G (21), G → C (18), and D → G (11). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - C chord transition.

1. G → C chord transition

Switching from G to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

G to C

2. G → D chord transition

Here's how to move from G to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

G to D

3. G → Bm chord transition

Switching from G to Bm:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to B string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

G to Bm

4. Bm → F#m chord transition

Here's how to move from Bm to F#m:

  1. While playing Bm, lift your middle finger from B string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 4.
  4. Slide your pinky from G string fret 4 to D string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

Bm to F#m

5. F#m → A chord transition

Switching from F#m to A:

  1. While playing F#m, lift your pinky from D string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 4 to B string fret 2.
  4. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. A → D chord transition

Here's how to move from A to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

7. D → C chord transition

Switching from D to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

8. G → F chord transition

Switching from G to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

9. F → Em chord transition

To move from F to Em:

  1. While playing F, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

10. Em → D chord transition

Switching from Em to D:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

11. C → F chord transition

To move from C to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the interlude, played 6 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Sisters of Mercy.

  • Sisters of Mercy includes 101 chord transitions, 11 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Sisters of Mercy contains 7 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Sisters of Mercy connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → F: 16%